Students needs to get the timing right and know what to go for when trying to earn extra cash over the summer holiday. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it's up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday's paper.

This week's question I'm a second year student who desperately needs to earn some money over the summer. What are the best paid summer jobs and how do you get one? Last year I applied too late, and everything had gone. I'll go anywhere and do anything – as long as it's legal. If it were abroad, or at least mildly interesting, so much the better.